Death of Private Danny Chen Parks Controversy and a Military Investigation
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~NAnONALNEWSPAPER~JACL Death of Private Danny Chen parks controversy and a military investigation. pg3 Ringing in New Year's, Asian American Style «pg5 # 3182 I VOL 154, No.2 ISSN: 0030-8579 • • 2 FEB. 3-16, 2012 LETTERS PACIFIC ' CITIZEN PACIFIC ~ CITIZEN GOD BLESS OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS HOW TO REACH US ..; E-mail: [email protected] Online: W>MN.pacificcitizen.org :z- Tel: (213) 620-1767 Fax: (213) 620-1768 Mail: 25OE. First Street, Suite 301 Los Angeles, CA 90012 to the STAFF Executive Editor Caroline Y Aoya!j-Stom Assistant Editor Lynda Un COLUMNIST KUMPEL EVOKES Reporter Nalea J. Ko STRONG REACTION FROM READERS Business Manager Staci Hisayasu This letter is in regards to the column by James KumpeJ in the Nov. Y ~AMJT O IS-Dec. 15, 2011, issue of the Pacific Citizen. His support of the Tea COJRTESY IT BR AN Circulation Eva Lau-Ting Party in a publication dedicated to the Asian Pacific community is At last our heroes have been or Swedish and the brunette was highly offensive, not primarily because I do not share his perspec duly honored with the Congres British or French, when one girl The Pacific Citizen newspaper (ISSN: omO-8579) is published tive, but rather that the mission of the JACL is supposed to be beyond sional Gold Medal which they so asked them to guess where I was semi-monthly (except once in De partisanship. richly deserve for their services in from. Much to our surprise, one cember and January) by the Japa Is it not enough that the country is inflamed by political divisions? the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regi man said: 'Oh we know she is an nese American Citizens League, Do we now have to see the become a place to debate our political ment and :Military Intelligence American from America.' When Pacific Citizen, P.c. 25OE. 1st Street, SUite301, Los perspectives under the guise of "freedom of the press"? Does being a Service during World War II. asked how he could know that I Angeles, CA 90012 JACL chapter board member permit "free press" for political ideol Whenever stories of their hero was American he replied: 'All the Periodical postage paid at LA., CA POSTMASTER: send address ogy that has little to do with the goals of the JACL? ism are retold, I am in awe of their American soldiers who helped changes to National JACL, 1765 I am not a "radical anarchist" but I did participate in Occupy Wall accomplishments and they make save our village looked like her,' Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115 AJA. Street. We did not see signs denigrating Republicans or Democrats. me proud to be an I am a pointing in my direction. Then JACL President: David Kawamoto It is a cause beyond partisanship as JACL needs to be. But even such Sansei, born in Honolulu, and in the young men started cheering: National Director: Floyd Mori issues have no place in the P.c., as it does not directly relate to the 1962 I was a stewardess for Pan 'American, American,' while P.C. EDITORIAL BOARD specific concerns of Asian Americans, unless we open this floodgate Am stationed in New York. I they circled around us. Judith Aono, chairperson; Paul recall a flight assignment to Rome I was oveIWhelmed by the Niwa, EDC; Kevin Miyazaki, MDC; as the editors seem to be on the path to doing. Roberta Barton, CCDC; David Un I have been a long-time supporter of the JACL but would seriously when we had a couple of days thoughts of the brave young ruhe, NCWNPDC; Hugh Burleson, consider withdrawing this support if we become a voice for a politi layover. So two other steward American soldiers who helped PNWDC; Gil Asakawa, IDC; Cindi esses (a blonde from Boston and a save all those villages and towns Harbottle, PSWDC; Sonya Kuki, cal party, irrespective of the relevancy to Asian Pacific concerns. I Youth P.c. Canadian blue-eyed brunette) and in Europe. It was the most heart hope we will re-examine our objectives and mandates of the SUBSCRIBE I decided to do some sight-seeing ening times of my life. So, I thank Get a one-year subscription of the Kathy Biala while shopping. all you brave American Congres Pacific Citizen newspaper at: We were in downtown Rome, sional Gold Medal Honorees and Wu'vW.pacificcitizen.org or call Fresno, Calif. (800) 966-6157 when a few young men ap God Bless. ADVERTISE Got the latest issue of the Pa Thank you for adding bal proached us. They tried guessing To advertise in the Pacific Citizen, cific Citizen. You don't have the ance to your publication. I en where the other girls were from, Nancy Sakurai call (SOO) 966-6157 or e-mail: [email protected] column inches to waste on col joy reading James Kumpel's saying the blonde was German San Francisco, CA umnist James Kumpel and the LEGAL articles. He has given me rea No part 01 this pubUcation may be rightwing place. son to renew my JACL mem reproduced wHhoutthe express per I will continue to complain bership. mission of the Pacific Citizen. 'till he is removed - for lying. DOESN'T NATIONAL COUNCIL DECIDE Editorials, news and the opinions ex pressed by columnists oIher thai the Since when do you allow lies? Tracie Sasaki Seibert THE LOCATION OF ITS DIRECTOR? national JACL president or national di Via email rector do nol necessarily reflect JACL Donald Gecewicz Vice President Gail Sueki's recent commentary (Nov. IS-Dec. 15, policy. Events aid products advertised in the Pacific Citizen do nol carry the Chicago, Illinois 2011, Pacific Citizen) piqued my interest since it indicated that the na impUcl endorsement of the JACL or tional board had decided that the director would be located in D.C. I this publication. We reserve the right to wonder if the provision in the JACLConstitution & Bylaws that nation edit artides. © 2012 al council determines the location of headquarters has been amended so Periodicals paid at Los Angeles, REMEMBERING SANTA ANITA the national board decides its location. I presume that it is still expected Calif and mailing office. that the national director shall be located at the national headquarters. ASSEMBLY CENTER The issue is close to me since I, as 1970-72 NCWNP governor, in JACL MEMBERS stigated the building of the JACL headquarters in San Francisco as a Change of Thank you for the nice articles of all the camps and assembly cen means of thwarting a move by some members of the national board to Address ters. I did not see any articles about the Santa Anita Assembly Center relocate the headquarters to Los Angeles after Masao Satow was eased in Arcadia, Calif. out of the national directorship he had so arduously filled for over 25 If you've moved, please send new When Pearl Harbor was attacked, I was 19 years old living on a years. information to: farm in Downey, Calif. Our family of three girls and one boy were As a newcomer to the JACL leadership, rather than simply oppos National JACL sent to Santa Anita Assembly Center on April 14, 1942. I believe there ing the move, I gained the support of the San Francisco JACL and the were 10,000 of us there. NCWNP district council to build a JACL headquarters in Japantown. I Francisco, CA Many of my girlfriends worked on making the camouflage nets for believed that if the national council approved the building of a national 94115 the war in the grand stand. I worked in the mess hall. We lived in the headquarters building in San Francisco, that action would moot the horse stable for six months. Some lived near the race track. movement of the JACL headquarters away from Northern California ~ acldrE'ss changes. We were sent to Rohwer Internment Camp on Sept. 24, 1942. It to Southern California. The national council approved the building of took two days on the train to arrive there. the headquarters building in San Francisco at its biennial convention at To avoid interrup I am 90 years old now, and writing about my camp days I have D.C. in 1972 and the headquarters was dedicated there in 1974. tions in delivery, remembered. My ploy seemed to have worked until recently when the national please notify your postmaster to Is there going to be any marker at Santa Anita saying Japanese director's office was somehow moved to D.C., where a D.c. represen include periodicals tative had been located previously. Americans also lived here for a short time? in your change of address (USPS Susan :Matsumoto Shigeki J. Sugiyama Form 3575) Kalaheo, Kauai Past National JACL President (1974-1976) PACIFIC ~ CITIZEN IN-DEPTH FEB. 3-16,2012 3 AA ADVOCATES DEMAND JUSTICE FOR PRIVATE CHEN Following the death of Chen, AA advocates are calling for the military to uphold its policies to prevent hazing and racially motivated harassment. CCl...ffiESY Cf' TI-fO CI-fO N FA/,j ILY J. By Nalea Ko, Reporter Pvt. Danny Chen's death has raised alarms for rrnny in the Asian American communit'll sian Americans advocates voiced death of Chen. Elizabeth OuYang, New York from the Army at the Pentagon on Dec. 14 For some, the news of Chen's death hits their frustrations after a military branch president of OCA and spokesperson to discuss diversity training in the military close to home. investigating officer recommend for the family, said Chen's parents are upset and disciplinary guidelines for possible haz "It has become increasingly clear that A ed dropping the involuntary man at the news.